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ἐπίθεσις

epíthesis

G1936 noun

SILEX Entry

Root τιθημι to place, to put, to impose

Definition

The act of placing or laying upon, especially with the hands; primarily denotes the physical act of putting or imposing something onto someone or something else. In specific contexts, commonly refers to the gesture of laying hands upon another person, typically as part of a ritual, blessing, appointment, or transfer of authority. The semantic range includes both literal (physical contact) and extended ritualistic or symbolic acts of placing.

Semantic Range

placing upon, imposition, laying on (of hands), act of putting something onto someone or something else, ritual gesture of appointment or blessing

Root / Etymology

From the compound preposition ἐπί (upon, on) and the noun θέσις (a placing), itself from τίθημι (to place, to put). Thus, ἐπίθεσις means 'a placing upon' or 'imposition'.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In early Greek (classical and Hellenistic), ἐπίθεσις can broadly signify placing or putting upon, whether materially (like putting a cover on something) or metaphorically (applying laws or rules). In the Septuagint and especially in the New Testament, it acquires specific ritual significance for the 'laying on of hands,' a symbolic gesture used in various actions such as blessing, commissioning, healing, or imparting the Holy Spirit. While English translations often render it as 'laying on of hands,' the phrase may not capture the whole breadth of ritual and ceremonial nuances present in Second Temple and early Christian practice. The term does not specify the initiator (e.g., leader, community), nor does it specify purpose apart from context; parallel terms (e.g., χειροθεσία, literally 'hand-placing') sometimes overlap in later Christian and Greek usage, but ἐπίθεσις is the typical term for the act itself rather than the formalized ritual. The meaning is stable between the Septuagint and New Testament, though always context-dependent; classical Greek uses are more general and less strongly associated with ritual acts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἐπιτίθημι; an imposition (of hands officially):--laying (putting) on.

Root Family

ἐπίθεσις (epithesis) — placing upon, imposition, laying on

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1936-01 ἐπιθέσεως epitheseos N GEN F SG laying on of placing upon of placing upon 4

Occurrences in Scripture

4 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1936-01 Acts 8:18 ἐπιθέσεως epitheseos N GEN F SG laying on of placing upon placing upon
G1936-01 1 Timothy 4:14 ἐπιθέσεως epitheseos N GEN F SG laying on of placing upon of placing upon
G1936-01 2 Timothy 1:6 ἐπιθέσεως epitheseos N GEN F SG laying on of placing upon laying on
G1936-01 Hebrews 6:2 ἐπιθέσεώς epitheseos N GEN F SG of laying on of placing upon of placing upon
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